Rolling mill



r Jan. 11,192.7.'

J. R. COE

ROLLING MIL;J y

Y Filed Sept. 28, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l awww/Lto@ Jan. 11 1927.

J. R. COE

ROLL-ING MILL Filed Sept. 28 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 VIL Snom/Lto@attenua/135,

Jan. 11 1927.

J. R. COE

ROLLING MILL Filed Sept. 28, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 11 1927.

J, R. COE

ROLLING MILL File'd sept. 28, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m n e v n 34Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES COE, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN BRASSCOMPANY. E WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, .A CORPORATION F CONNECTICUT.

ROLLING MILL.

Application led September 28, 1925. Serial No. 59,092.

This invention relates to rolling mills, and has for an object toprovide improved means to obtain the necessary stiffness with the use ofrolls of comparatively small diameter. Y v

It is also an object of the invention to so mount'the working rolls andthe stiffening and supporting means therefor that one of the rolls andits stiifening means maybe lo adjusted as a whole or as a unit relativeto the other working roll to secure the re quired relative adjustmentbetween the rolls.

It is a further object of the invention to so construct the mounting andstiffeningv means for the working rolls that they may be mounted in thestandard housings used in this type of device, and therefore, rollsprovided with my improved stiffening and supporting means may besubstituted for larger rolls mounted in the housings Withoutreconstructing the housings.

This invention relates to the type of rolling mills in which rotatingbacking members are used for supporting the Working roll throughoutsubstantially its entire length,

and it is a still further object of the invention to so construct andarrange these backing members that a relatively small diameter ofworking roll may be used with rela- :w tively large diameters of backingrolls Without increasing the angle between the lines joining the axes ofthe backing members and the axis of the roll and thus without increasingthe lateral thrust beyond what is consid- :sn ered good engineeringpractice; and lit is also an object of the invention to so form andarrange the backing members that the wear thereof on the working roll isdistributed uniformly throughoutthe entire surface of this roll.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, similar ref- -l erence characters being employedthroughout the various figures to indicate corresponding elements. Inthese drawings- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a rolling mill showing myinvention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vert-ical transverse section through the same substantiallyon lire Q -2 of Fig. l.

-the adjacent,` members and mounting the Fig. 3 is an end elevationlooking fromthe right of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the backing members forthe roll.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the supports for the backingmembers and showing one form of these members in elevation.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a slightly differentconstruction, and

F ig.l 7 is a vertical section through one of the groups ofbackingmembers and the support therefor shown in Fig. 6.

In rolling mill practice frequently vary high pressures are required androlls to withstand these pressures and not yield or spring anobjectionable amount must be of a very large diameter, which makes themexpensive and also difficult to handle. These larger rolls are alsoobjectionable for certain Work because, on account of the small vangleat the rolling point between the rolls,

it is difficult to secure the required reduction in the/metal beingrolled.

-To overcome these objections mills'have ,been made with working rpllsof relatively small diameter in order to secure a larger angle at therolling point between the rolls and give the required reduction, andthese rolls have been backed or supported by means of separate idlingrolls to prevent excessive springing of the working rolls and to givethe required strength, but as these backing rolls are supported insubstantially the same way as the Working rolls they must be of a largediameter to give the required strength.V and stiffness, yand they'require specially designed housings or frames.

I have found that by providing the working rolls with a plurality ofbacking members which are spaced from each other longitudinally of theroll, providing supporting means for these backing members betweensupport-ing means in a heavy casting to give the required strength andstiffness, I can use relatively small Working rolls, and that I canmount these rolls withV their backing means in the standard housings orframes. l

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a mill involving my improvedconstruction. In this mill 10 represents a pair lun of the usualhousings or frames mounted on the usual supporting rails 11 on whichthey are longitudinally adjustable, but may be secured in adjustedpositions by any suitable means. Mounted in these housings is a pair ofheavy castings 12 and 13 which extend longitudinally between thehousings. In the present construction the lower casting is seated at itsopposite ends in the housings and rests on the lower walls 14 of theopenings 15 in the housings, While the upper casting 13 is guided at itsopposite ends for vertical movement in these openings, the side walls ofthe openings forming guides for the casting to maintain it in properposition. These castings are of similar con-v struct-ion and arestrengthened tofgive them the required vertical stiffness by the ,ribs16, a'nd they are also provided with lateral ribs 17 to give them the-required lateral stiftl` ness. In the construction shown in Figs. l to5 these castings are recessed on their opposite sides to receive thebearing blocks 18 for the backing or supporting members 19, there beingin the present construction two groups of backing members for eachworking roll as' shown in Fig. 2, two above the upper roll 20 and twobelow the lower roll 21. v

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 each working roll has a set ofthesebacking members, each set comprising two groups and each group`comprises a plurality r of these members spaced from each otherlongitudinally of the working roll. The members of eac-h group aremounted to rotate about an axis parallel with the working roll butspaced laterally from the axis of the other group, one group beingA onone side of the verticall plane through the axis of the working rollwhile the other group is on the opposite side of this plane, as shown inFig. 2. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 the backing members ofeach group are all formed asV one integral element although the backingmembers are in etl'ect separate and distinct. In this construction themember is reducedY in diameter at suitable spaced points intermediateits length as shown at 22 to provide bearings running in the bearingblocks 18 and also to provide a plurality of spaced backing members 19to engage the surface of the working rolls 20 and 21. By thisarrangement the bearings are removed from the surfaces which engage thesurfaces of the working roll, and, therefore, the oil and grease whichis rcquired for these bearings is not carried to the surface of theworking rolls where they would be transferred to themetal being rolled.rlShis arrangement, therefore, not only provides supporting bearings atsuitably spaced distances throughout the length of the group of backingmembers, but these bearings are secured without contaminating thesurfaces of the roll with grease. It is to be noted that the backingmembers in one group of a set are staggered with respect to or arrangedin alternate relation with the corresponding backing members of theotherf group of the set, and therefore, they may be arranged inoverlapping relation as indicated in Figs. 2 and 4. With thisarrangement the axes 23 of the backing members may be placed closertogether Without reducing the diameters of these members, and

thus the included angle (A) or (A) be-v tween the line joining the axesof the backing members and the axis of the working roll, as indicated inFig. 2, is smaller than would be the case if these backing members werearranged opposite to each other, and therefore, with this arrangement Ican use a smaller Working roll with the same diameter of backing memberswithout increasing this angle and the side thrust beyond what isconsidered good engineering practice. It also reduces the amount ofspace laterally7 of the rolls which is required by thesebacking membersin the housing. This arrangement, therefore, allows the use of backingmembers of a larger' diameter in the same size housing. I have shown inFig. 2 how this overlapped arrangement of backing members will allow theuse of a considerably smaller diameter of working roll, indicated bydotted lines 20 and 21', and said smaller Working roll may be used withthe same backing members Withoutmaterially increasing this includedangle. It will be further apparent that the strains are taken up by theheavy castings 12 and 13 which ive the backing members, and through thcacking members the working rolls, the required stifl'ness. Thus theworking rolls may be given any desired diameter which is the mostSuitable for the particular Work to be performed.

It is also preferred to provide caps 24 on the opposite side of thebearings for the backing members from the bearing blocks 18, these capsbeing secured to the castings 12 and 13 by any suitable means, suchscrews 25, these caps helping to retain the backing members in thecastings. Bearing blocks 26 are/provided for reduced necks 27 oftheWorking rolls, and these blocks are also guided in the openings 15 inthe housings.

In the form of device shown in Figs. G and 7 the construction andarrangement is the same as thatv shownY in Figs. 1 to 5 encept thatinstead of making the backing members of each group from a single pieceof metal a stationary support 'is provided and the backing members areindividually mounted to rotate on this support. rIhe arrangement of thebacking members and their supporting effect on the working rolls are,however, the same in both cases. .in

this construction and arrangement the supporting member for the backingmembers isindicated as a stationary shaft28 mounted in the heavycastings l2 and 13. These shafts are reduced in diameter somewhat atvarious spaced points as shown at 29 which rest on either separateblocks mounted' in the casting, or the wall of the casting may beextended to engage these surfaces. The rotatable backing members areindicated at 30 and comprise rings which engage the surfaces of theworking rolls 2O and 2l and rotate about the shaft 28 on the rollerbearings 31'. These elements are held in position by suitable caps 32secured to the castings. It is to be noted that in this form, the sameas in the form shown in\ Figs. 1 to 5, the backing members 3() for eachworkingy roll are arranged in two groups, one group rotating about anaxis located on one side ofthe verticalplane through the axis of theworking )roll while the other group is located on an axis on the otherside of this plane as indicated in Fig. 6. It is also to be noted thatthe backing members of one group are staggered in respect to or arearranged in alternate relation with the backing members of the othergroup Yso that they may be overlapped to bring their axes closertogether than would be possible if they were arranged opposite. eachother, and thus reduce the included angle (A) or (A) between the linesjoining the axes of these backing members, and the axis of the work-4ing roll, the same as in the first form. In

other Wordsthe lateral distance between the axes ofthe backing` membersmay be less than twice the diameter of these members.

The construction and arrangement illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, givesexactly the same effect and support for the working rolls. as is securedin the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5, except that the backing inemberscomprise separate and distinct elements mounted to rotate aboutstationary supports mounted in the castings whereas in the form shown inFigs. .1- to 5 the backing members of each group are Aformed of a singlemember rotating in these castings` but although the lattermembers areintegral they are in effect separate members as far as supporting andbacking the working rolls is concerned,Mv

so that where throughout the specification vand claims I have mentionedthe backingmembers as being arranged in4 groups I wish it .to beunderstood that this term includes either the form shown in Figs. 1 tov5where the members of the group are integral or the :t'orm shown in Figs.6 and 7 where they are separate and rotate about a stationary member. ,l

Not only does this overlapped relationof the backing members allow theuse of a smaller diameter of working rolls vbut an other distinctadvantage is that they distend tol lift these rods.

tribute their wear throughout the entire surface of the working rolls asthe entire surface` of these rolls is in contact with the backingmembers. Thus there are no grooves worn in the backing rolls by thesupporting members even though the members themselves are not continuousthroughout the length of the rolls. Thus with this arrangement I securea support for the working rolls throughout the entire length thereof,secure a uniform wear of the surfaces of these rolls on the backingmembers throughout their entire lengths and secure this ei'ect withsupporting means which are themselves supported throughout substantiallytheir entirel length so that they are always held in the properposition, and

I do this without contaminating the surfaces rolls for rolling variousthicknesses of metal i and so forth. To accomplish this, in the. presentconstruction the upper bearing blocks 26 for ,the upper working roll 20are supported by the rods 33 which extend upwardly from below thehousing where they are supported by the usual lever and counterweightsor heavy springs 34. These and the supporting casting therefor' lll)springsare mounted on a support 35 carried l on the under side of thehousing by the bolts 36 and bear at their upper ends against collars 37secured on the rod 33 and thus These rods carry suitable nuts 38 whichengage the lower sides of the blocks26 and thus tend to lift the upperworking lroll 20, the two groups of backing members therefor and thesupporting casting 13 as a unit. The upper movement of thisunit iscontrolled by the usual adjust- Ving screws 39 mounted in the tops ofthe housings and engaging the casting 13. It will thus be'apparent thatthe springs 34 acting through the rods 33 maintain the upper workingrol1,"-the backing membersy therefor and their supporting castingalwaysin the same relative position, and thatthese'- elements by the coactionof the adjusting I screw with these rods and springs allow adjusting ofthis unit as a whole and without' changing lin any way the relafivepositions the elements of the unit; and further that this unit may beadjusted in a vertical plane relative to the lower working roll.' Thelower blocks 26 are bearings for the necks of the lower working rollthrough which'the rods 33 extend. `Bolts provided to form upper 40extend through and between the two bearings and carry springs 41reacting at their opposite ends against these two bearings and tend toseparate the same and hold the lower working roll in proper position onits backing members.

The rolls are driven from any suitable source of power not shown. Asshown in Fig. 1 the squared ends 42 of the working rolls are connectedby suitable couplings 43 to the blocks 44 driven by any suitable meansfrom the source of power. At their opposite ends the two working rollshave driving connections through the gears 45. In the forms shown inFigs. l to 5 the backing members 19 for the respective working rolls maybe driven from the gears 45, but as the two sets of backing members foreach working roll must be driven in the same direction onegroup ofbacking members is driven by a gear meshing 46 meshing with one half ofits driving gear while the other groupA of backing members is driven bythe gear Y 47 meshing with the other half of the gear 45.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a rolling mill, a Working roll, rotatable backing members for saidroll arranged to rotate about axes parallel with that of the roll andspaced laterally of each other, said members including portions of adiameter to engage the surface of the roll and spaced from each otherlongitudinally of the roll, the roll engaging portions on one side ofthe roll being alternately arran ed with respect to ,those `on the othersi e of the rol and .supports for said members located between the rollengaging portions;

2. Ina rolling mlll, a Workin tatable backing members for ysai roll roroll arranged to rotate about axes parallel with that of the roll andspaced laterally of each other, said membersincluding portions ofadiameter to engage the surface of -the` roll and s'paced from eachother longitudinally i of the roll, the roll engaging portions on oneside of the roll being alternately arranged with respect to those on theother side of the roll and in overlapped relation there-` with, andsupports for said members located between the roll engagingportions.

3. In la rolling mill, a' working roll, a set of backing members forsaid roll mounted to rotate about late-rally spaced axes, the members oneach axis comprising enlarged portions yspaced from'each otherlongitudinally of the roll and alternately arranged with respect tothoseon the other axis and mounted'to engage the surface of the roll tosupport the roll, and supporting means for said membersv arrangedbetween` the roll engaging portions.

4. In a rollingemill, a working roll, a set of backing mem rs for saidroll mounted i n to rotate about lateially spaced axes, the

rolls, a set of backing members for each roll, the members of each setbeing arranged in groups, each group mounted to rotate about an axisspaced laterally from the axis of the other group, each groupcomprisingT members'spaced from each other longitudL nally of the rolland engaging the surface tliereof to support the roll, the members ofolie group being alternately arranged with respect to those of the othergroup, and .i

supporting means for the members arranged between the adjacent membersof each group.

6. Ina rolling -mill, a pair ofrfworking rolls, a set of backing membersfor each roll, the members of each set being arranged ingroups, eachgroup mounted to rotate about an axis spaced laterally from the axis ofthe other group, each group comprising t members spaced from each otherlongitudinally of the lroll and engaging the surface thereof to supportthe roll, the members of one group being alternately arranged withrespect to those of the other group and overlapping the same so that thedistance between the axes of the members is less than twice the diameterof the members, and sup-V porting means for the members arranged betweenthe adjacent members of each group.

7. In a rolling mill, a working roll, a set of backing members for theroll, the members being arranged in groups, each grou'p mounted torotate about an axis spaced laterally from the axis of the other group,each group comprising members spaced from each other longitudinally ofthe roll and engaging the surface thereof to support the roll, themembers of one group being alternately arranged with respect to those ofthe other group, means for supporting the members arranged between the-adjacent members of each group, and

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tudinally of the roll and engaging the bers of one group beingalternately arranged with -respect to' those lof the other group, meansfor supporting the members arranged between the adjacent members of eachgroup, and a support for`t-he supporting means mounted in the housingsand extending between the same. Y

9. In a rolling mill, a workingl roll, rotatable backing members forsaid roll arranged to rotate about axes parallel with that of the rolland spaced laterally of each other, said members including portions of adiameter to engage the surface of the roll and spaced from each otherlongitudinally of the roll, the roll engaging portions on one side ofthe roll being alternately arranged with respect to those on the otherside of the roll and in overlapped relation therewith.

l0. In a rolling mill, a working roll. a

set of backing members for said roll mounted to rotate about laterallyspaced axes, the members on each axis comprising enlarged portionsspaced from each other longitudinally of the roll and arranged inalternate relation with and overlapping those on the other axis, `-theenlarged portions being mounted to engage the surface of the roll tosupport the roll. l v l 11. In a rolling mill, a working roll, a set ofbachlng members for said roll arranged in groups, each group beingmount- 'ed to rotate about an axis spaced laterally from the axis of theother group and comprising members spaced from each otherlongitudinally/of the roll and engaging the surface thereof to supportthe roll, the members of one group being alternately arranged withrespect to those ofthe other group and overlapping the same so that theaxis, said enlarged portions being mounted.

ley

to engage the surface of the roll to support the roll.

13. In a rolling mill, a pair of spaced housings, a pair of Workingrolls between said housings, a set of backing members for each roll, themembers for each set being arranged in groups, each group of each setbeing mounted to rotate about an axis spaced laterally from the axis ofthe other group, each group comprising members spaced from each otherlongitudinally of the roll and engaging the surface thereof to supportthe roll, the members of one group being alternately arranged withrespect to thevmembers of the other group of the set andk in overlappedrelation therewith so that the distance between the members of each setis less than the diameter of the members, supporting means for themembers arranged between the adjacent members of each group, and asupport for the supporting means of each set mounted in the housings andextending between the same.

ture.

JAMES R. COE.

